DEKALB — Northern Illinois’ time in the national college football rankings was almost short-lived.

The 23rd-ranked Huskies stayed unbeaten on the season, but not before getting a scare from one-win Akron during Saturday’s homecoming game. NIU converted on just one third-down try all afternoon, but quarterback Jordan Lynch did just enough as the Huskies hung on for a 27-20 win.

“When you go 1-for-15 on third downs, boy you sure can’t get into any kind of rhythm,” NIU head coach Rod Carey said. “Our defense, people don’t realize, is a very good defense. They have to have the ability to carry us, and I thought tonight, they did.”

Akron (1-6, 0-3 MAC), which gained respect when it pushed Michigan to the brink in an early-season game in The Big House, charged right down the field and took a quick 7-0 lead. But the Huskies extended both the longest home winning streak in the country (23), and now the longest in MAC history, as well as the longest conference winning streak in the nation (19) by stiffening up on defense down the stretch.

NIU led just 17-14 after going 1-for-10 on third downs in the first half, when the Huskies punted five times, including three in a row to close out the second quarter. But Lynch — who finished with 220 yards and a TD through the air and 83 yards and a score on the ground — led a six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive to open the third quarter, and safety Jimmie Ward hauled in an interception in his fourth straight game to spark a strong defensive stand late.

Akron did get one last shot to take the lead, starting from its own 32 with 1:15 left in he game. But again, the Huskie defense came through, and took over on downs in the waning seconds.